. Town and city. is is, or just what itdoes. We only know that after any particular horse isimmune there is something in his blood that can be putunder the skin of human beings to save them from diph-theria. This, therefore, is called antitoxin. After those horses have received enough toxin tomake them immune the tables are turned, and theyhave to contribute some of their blood once in a while,for the sake of the antitoxin that men wish to get outof it. If we should visit the stables in Detroit where theseantitoxin horses are kept, we should find each in his ownspecial stall. We should also no
. Town and city. is is, or just what itdoes. We only know that after any particular horse isimmune there is something in his blood that can be putunder the skin of human beings to save them from diph-theria. This, therefore, is called antitoxin. After those horses have received enough toxin tomake them immune the tables are turned, and theyhave to contribute some of their blood once in a while,for the sake of the antitoxin that men wish to get outof it. If we should visit the stables in Detroit where theseantitoxin horses are kept, we should find each in his ownspecial stall. We should also notice that each stall has SOME SAFEGUARDS AGAINST EPIDEMICS i8i its own small blackboard on which is written the name orthe number of the horse, the date when he received hislast dose of toxin, and the date when he must yield hisblood to those who need it. Everything is carefully done. The blood is taken fromthe neck of the animal, and he suffers no more thanmen used to suffer when they were bled for their Friends who raise the Antitoxin for Us This blood is then allowed to stand until it clots orseparates. The watery part — the serum, as it is called— holds the precious antitoxin which the body of thehorse has manufactured. This is tested, filtered, put intosmall glass tubes in proper-sized doses, and sent hereand there to save the children of the country fromdiphtheria. I82 TOWN AND CITY The discovery of this wonderful cure has changedthe diphtheria record of the world. Formerly in NewYork City forty out of every hundred who had thedisease died of it; now it kills not more than eight ineach hundred. The truth is that the health departmenthas worked hard for this result. In 1902 it divided thecity into eight districts and appointed a special inspec-tor for each one of men were on dutyday and night. When acase of diphtheria wasreported to the depart-ment, it was at once tele-phoned on to the properinspector, and he attendedto it without a momentsdelay. In
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